Shotgun shell

ABSTRACT

An improved shotgun shell including a plastic insert constructed to provide an inner and outer tubular arrangement for retaining two different sizes of shot in one shell.

J United States Patent 1 1111 3,796,157

Anderson 1 Mar. 12, 1974 [54] SHOTGUN SHELL 1,277,810 9/1918 Woodhouse102/42 R Inventor; y on, 6655 S- N w FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSHave", Tulsa Okla? 74136 1,454,931 10/1966 France 102/42 0 1 72 461,41710/1913 France.... 102/42 [22] Wed Mar 19 473,162 9/1914 France 102/42[21] App]. No.: 231,698

Primary ExaminerRobert F. Stahl 52 us. 0. 102/42' (2, 102/95 Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Frank 1 Thienvont [51] Int. Cl. F42b 7/08 [58] Field ofSearch 102/42 R, 42 C, 95 57 S C [56] References Cited An improvedshotgun shell including a plastic insert constructed to provide an innerand outer tubular ar- UNITED STATES PATENTS rangement for retaining twodifferent sizes of shot in 875,762 l/l908 Winans et a1. 102/42 R one h u1,352,938 9/1920 Blair 102/42 R 2,440,568 4/1948 9 Claims, 5 DrawingFigures Arter 102/42 R SHOTGUN SHELL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to improvements in shotgun shells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention is toprovide a tubular insert for a shotgun shell which is adapted to containtwo different sizes of shot separated from each other.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shotgun shellutilizing an insert having inner and outer plastic tubular membersassociated with a base member inserted within the shell housing so as toprovide a central column for one size of shot and an outer columnsurrounding the central column for a different size of shot.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readilyapparent when considering the description below in connection with thefollowing drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of ashotgun shell embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the shell taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the plastic tubular insert incorporatedin the shell of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a shotgun shell using a modifiedconstruction of a plastic tubular insert embodying the invention herein;and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a separate inner tube member.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingwherein like reference characters in the several view designate similarparts, designates, in general, a conventional type shotgun shell. Theshotgun shell 10 is formed with an outer shell casing 11, a head 12, aprimer 13, an explosive charge 14 disposed in the base of the shell, anda tubular insert 15 disposed within the shell casing 11. Shot ofdifferent sizes are contained within the tubular insert 15.

The tubular insert 15, which preferably is made of a flexible plasticmaterial, comprises a base 16, an outer tube member 17 integrallyconnected to the base 16 and an inner or central tube member 18 alsointegrally connected to the base 16.The base 16 is formed withtransversely extending openings 20 therethrough leaving web portions 21interconnecting upper and lower base sections 16a and 16b. Theconstruction of base 16 with the openings 20, and web portions 21,provides a cushioning effect when the shell is fired. It will beobserved that the outer tube member, together with the central tube 18,defines a shot chamber 22, and inner tube member 18, defines anothershot chamber 23. A cap 24 covers the open end of both of the tubemembers l7 and 18. It becomes apparent that shot of one size may bedisposed in the chamber 23 defined by the central tube 18 and that shotof a different size may be disposed in the chamber 22 lying between thecentral tube and the outer tube.

6 It is particularly advantageous in the field for a hunter to haveavailable two different kinds of shot, one of which may be used againstgame which is nearby and the other which is against game at a greaterdistance. The improvement herein disclosed allows such a combination ofshot into one shell. The central tube 18 may be loaded, for example,with a relatively heavier size shot and the chamber 22 may be loadedwith shot of a relatively smaller size. This allows the hunter to beready for both close and distant game. If a heavier shot is used in thecentral tube, the hunter has an opportunity to hit distant game with theshot disposed in this central tube. The shot which is relatively lighterand disposed in the chamber 22 may be used for closer game.

Each of the thin tubular members 17 and 18 preferably are formed with aplurality of longitudinally extending slits, 25 and 26 respectively,although the tubular members may be formed without slits. Thus when theshell is fired, the plastic tubular insert 15 emerges from the end ofthe shotgun barrel and after moving a few feet beyond the barrel opensup and drops away from the shot which it has been e ncasing. The heaviershot, of course, will spread out into a very small pattern. The smallershot will have a tendency to make a larger pattern but will not travelas far as the heavier shot coming from the central tube.

In FIG. 4 a modified form of tubular insert is I shown. The tubularinsert of FIG. 4 has a similar construction of outer and central tubemembers 117 and 118, integrally formed with a base 116, the onlydifference in the tubular inserts being in the structure of the bases 16and 116. A separate plastic wad 127 usually is disposed adjacent thebase 116. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the outer and central tube membersalso preferably have longitudinal slits formed therein although the tubemembers may be formed without the slits.

FIG. 5 illustrates a separate inner tube member 218 which may be formedseparately for insertion into an outer tube member 17 or 117 instead ofhaving the inner tube member integrally attached to the base 16 or 116.A ring-like base portion 230 attached to the tube member 218 formed to,or slightly less than, the inner diameter of the outer tube member 17 or117, centers the inner tube in the outer tube.

Other means might also be provided to support an inner tube memberwithin the outer tube member such as a bore or circular groove formed inthe base 16.

It will be seen that I have advantageously provided a highly improvedshotgun shell which is capable of maintaining separately in twodifferent chambers, two different sizes of shot. These different sizesof shot will accommodate a hunter who is hunting for game at both longand short distances.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed, it will be appreciated that these are shown by way of exampleonly and the invention is not to be limited thereto, as other variationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is to begiven its fullest possible interpretation within the terms of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a shotgun shell cartridge formed with an outer casing and havingan explosive charge disposed in the base thereof the combinationcomprising:

an outer casing;

a tubular insert disposed in said outer casing said tubular insertincluding,

a base member,

a longitudinally extending outer tube member attached to said basemember,

an inner tube member disposed in and coaxially disposed with said outertube member,

said inner and outer tube member defining a chamber therebetween forretaining shot,

said inner tube member defining another chamber for retaining shot; and

shot in each of said chambers.

2. The combination of claim ll wherein at least one of said tube membersis formed with at least one longitudinal slit extending substantiallythe length thereof.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer tube membersare integrally formed with said base member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubular insert is formed of aplastic material.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base member comprises anelongated member formed with a plurality of transversely extendingopenings therethrough.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner tube member is formedseparately from said tubular insert and further includes means forpositioning said separate inner tube member within said outer tubemember.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner tube member is formedseparately from the remainder of said insert and includes a guide ringassociated with said inner tube member for centering said inner tubemember within said outer tube member.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said guide ring is formed at thebase of said inner tube member.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shot in one chamber is of onesize and the shot in the other chamber is of another size.

1. In a shotgun shell cartridge formed with an outer casing and havingan explosive charge disposed in the base thereof the combinationcomprising: an outer casing; a tubular insert disposed in said outercasing said tubular insert including, a base member, a longitudinallyextending outer tube member attached to said base member, an inner tubemember disposed in and coaxially disposed with said outer tube member,said inner and outer tube member defining a chamber therebetween forretaining shot, said inner tube member defining another chamber forretaining shot; and shot in each of said chambers.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein at least one of said tube members is formed with atleast one longitudinal slit extending substantially the length thereof.3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer tube membersare integrally formed with said base member.
 4. The combination of claim1 wherein said tubular insert is formed of a plastic material.
 5. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said base member comprises an elongatedmember formed with a plurality of transversely extending openingstherethrough.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner tubemember is formed separately from said tuBular insert and furtherincludes means for positioning said separate inner tube member withinsaid outer tube member.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said innertube member is formed separately from the remainder of said insert andincludes a guide ring associated with said inner tube member forcentering said inner tube member within said outer tube member.
 8. Thecombination of claim 7 wherein said guide ring is formed at the base ofsaid inner tube member.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shotin one chamber is of one size and the shot in the other chamber is ofanother size.